A researcher for a US television station was recently looking for an American who couldn’t find work in the U.S. and decided to look abroad – particularly Ontario, Canada. Specifics of the request were:

“The person could have been unemployed or unable to keep a full time permanent job in the U.S. or could have either gotten a job offer from a Canadian employer while still in the U.S. or left the U.S. for Canada and successfully found employment.”

The researcher’s request coincided with a recentNAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) meeting in Washington of “The Three Amigos” (a name that fondly refers to the Presidents of United States & Mexico, and the Prime Minister of Canada).

NAFTA is an international agreement to facilitate freer trading relationships among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, a region of more than 400 million people. This agreement came into effect on January 1, 1994, and as a result, it became necessary to loosen immigration and trade restrictions among the countries.

What follows is a synopsis of NAFTA, as it relates to the movement of skilled labour. The article is for information purposes only and is not a discussion of the commercial or political merits of the agreement. Its intent is to shine a spotlight on a little known aspect of the Agreement that could be beneficial to professionals from member countries.

How NAFTA Impacts Job Hunting

Under NAFTA, certain professionals from Canada, Mexico, and the United States can gain quicker, easier temporary entry to conduct investment or business activities if they are employees of a company that does business for an employer in these countries.

Businesspeople and professionals may be admitted if they have:

• Proof of citizenship of a NAFTA country
• Evidence that the proposed business activity is international and that the businessperson does not seek to enter the host state’s labour market
• Profession is on the NAFTA list
• Position requires a NAFTA professional
• Applicant is to work in a prearranged full-time or part-time job, for a Canadian, Mexican, or U.S. employer

While these professionals must comply with each country’s existing regulations on temporary entry immigration requirements, they are exempt from the job-validation process by their respective immigration departments, or in the case of Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC).

Where are the potential windows of opportunity for employment?

1. The region is home to approximately 444 million people, with over $1 trillion in trilateral trade, and that trade includes the trading of skilled labour.
2. The unemployment rate in all three countries averages 6.6% (United States 7.4%, Canada 7.2% and Mexico 5.1%).
3. There’s a considerable skills shortage in the region, and as Canada and the US face an aging population, Mexico will continue to be an important source of immigrants.
4. Every year, over 150,000 foreign workers enter Canada to work temporarily in jobs that help Canadian employers address skill shortages. This may or may not include professionals employed through the NAFTA stream.

There are over 60 professions where job opportunities may exist as a result of NAFTA. Among these are accountants, architects, economists, engineers, teachers, management consultant, pharmacists, dieticians, and registered nurses. (The full list of professions can be found at the link below titled “Cross Border Movement of Business Persons.”) Of course, these individuals must satisfy the minimum credential requirements for the proposed occupation and have the necessary professional license, certification, accreditation, or registration applicable to the practice of their profession.

Having said all of that, it is important to note that, in Canada, unless the profession is a specialized one, or there is a severe shortage of people to fill particular positions, obtaining a job offer for a permanent position is not as easy as it appears, with or without NAFTA. However, that should not prevent professionals from exploring other opportunities if their job search south of the border is proving unsuccessful.

As noted earlier, this article is for information purposes only, and not intended to offer legal advice. Readers should visit the information links, below, for specific requirements and seek legal advice before making a decision.

For More Information:

• North American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA duties, benefits
• Cross Border Movement of Business Persons
• Special Business (Citizenship & Immigration Canada)
• Jobs Not Requiring a Work Permit

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

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Federal Skilled Worker Program Rules

Beginning in early May, 2013, new applicants to Canada will be assessed under the new Federal Skilled Worker Program (FWSP).

This will be based on the skills needed, who is best suited to fill the gaps, and who has the potential to succeed.

While it might not be welcome news for those who are here and still struggling to find suitable employment, it is a step in the right direction for future immigrants and employers.

Two main areas that have seen significant changes are language proficiency and education.

The government has reduced the number of points for education and has increased points for language proficiency. One study shows that “87% of employers see inadequate skills in English (or French) as barriers getting in the way of internationally educated professionals finding suitable employment.” (See Compas survey link below).

As such, language proficiency is now the top priority.

With respect to educational assessment, the new Educational Credential Assessment process will now be mandatory and will be based on Canadian standards.

This is a departure from the norm when applicants were assessed based on the educational standards of their home countries. Therefore, if the credential is not assessed as being on par with its Canadian counterpart, the applicant won’t be accepted. This process also curbs incidences of fraud.

Below is a summary of the new selection criteria:

1. Language Proficiency.

Language proficiency in either French or English – Canada’s two official languages – is now the most important factor on the eligibility scale. Studies have shown that inadequate language skills severely influences the ability of a new immigrant to find suitable employment. Applicants will now have to demonstrate they meet the minimum language criteria as specified in the Canadian Language Benchmark.

2. Age.

The government has now determined that the younger the applicant, the better he or she will be able to integrate into the labour market, and the longer they will remain. This means, applicants up to age 35 will be awarded the maximum 12 points, with a decrease in points awarded from age 35 to 46. No points will be awarded to anyone over 46 years old.

3. Education.

The government will be designating certain organizations to conduct a mandatory assessments of an applicant’s foreign credentials to ensure they are equivalent to the Canadian standard, and not those of the applicant’s home country.

4. Work Experience.

According to Citizenship & Immigration Canada, an applicant’s years of foreign work experience is not a good predictor of success in the Canadian labour market, so they have reduced the number of points from 21 to 15, while putting more emphasis on the number of years of experience required in order to get full points.

5. Arranged Employment.

A valid job offer benefits both employer and applicant. If the employer can demonstrate, through a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) issued by Human Resources Development Canada (HRSDC), that they have tried to find a qualified Canadian to fill a role, but could not, they will be eligible to source and bring a qualified worker to Canada. The applicant benefits as he or she will receive a work permit allowing him or her to start working immediately while their application for permanent residency is being processed.

Moving to Canada, particularly for foreign educated professionals, has not been easy partly because the Canadian Government originally placed more emphasis on individuals with advanced education rather than on areas for which there are skills gaps. This new policy is a departure from that norm and is designed to ensure that applicants who arrive will be ready to start filling the skills shortage the country faces. It also makes it less frustrating for potential applicants as they will know upfront whether or not they will fit in and thrive in the Canadian labour market or if they should remain where they are.

For more information:

• Citizenship & Immigration Canada
• Compas Research survey

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

The post Moving to Canada? The New Canadian Immigration Rules appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Each year, Canada welcomes approximately 250,000 new immigrants, and it has been a challenge for them to find positions commensurate with their qualifications.

To help people meet those challenges, Daisy, a Certified Career Management Coach, published No Canadian Experience, Eh? As one book publisher remarked at the time, “I was pleasantly surprised to see so much valuable information for a segment of the population that was largely ignored in regards to the job search.”

Daisy is the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

Meet more of Job-Hunt’s Job Search Experts.

Articles by Daisy Wright

Canadian Job Search Home:

• Canadian Job Search Home
  Canada and the United States share the longest common undefended border, officially known as the International Boundary, between any two countries. Because of this proximity, it is often said, in jest, that if the US sneezes, Canada catches a cold.

Conducting a Canadian Job Search:

• Canada’s Immigration Rules
  For decades foreign educated immigrants to Canada have suffered from underemployment, being told – overtly and covertly – that they lack Canadian work experience, notwithstanding the fact their prior work experience played a major role in their selection. The Federal Government has long ago realized the problem and has now made significant changes to the way it selects new immigrants.
• Canada’s SIN Cards
  “What is your SIN?” This normal question could startle any job seeker and have them wondering what his or her “sins” have to do with getting a job. In Canada, this is a legitimate question.
• High-Demand Jobs for Canada’s Oil Patch Region
  Canadian Business recently reviewed 600 jobs tracked by Statistics Canada (StatCan), and selected the top 10 jobs in Canada that had the best combination of high wages and employment growth over the past five years. By the way, these oil-patch jobs have nothing to do with the Keystone Pipeline project, which is currently a topic of political discussion in this U.S. election year.

• Caution! Watch Out for the Differences in Canadian and American Spelling
  Although it might not be well known, there are subtle differences between Canadian and American spelling of many words, and when it comes to the job search, it could be the deciding factor in landing a job.
• Job Search in Quebec: The French Factor
  Although there’s a heavy French influence in New Brunswick and some other areas of Atlantic Canada, Quebec is regarded as the heart of French Canada. As such, a job seeker who is fluent in English and French has a clear advantage in the province.
• NAFTA and Job Search in Canada
  A researcher for a US television station was recently looking for an American who couldn’t find work in the U.S. and decided to look abroad – particularly Ontario, Canada.
• 10 Quick Tips to Keep You Ahead of the Layoff Curve
  Hewlett Packard recently announced it is laying off approximately 27,000 employees. On the Canadian side of the border, technology firm RIM is planning to lay off staff due to its loss of market share in the wireless industry. Add the high unemployment rate and accompanying jitters in the Eurozone and the global job market looks extremely gloomy.

Meet more of Job-Hunt’s Job Search and Career Experts.

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

The post Daisy Wright, Job Search Expert for Canada appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Jests aside, both countries probably share more commonalities than differences. But differences do exist that can trip up job seekers who don’t know about them or aren’t paying attention.

• How many people know that Canada welcomes approximately 250,000 new immigrants every year?
• How many people are aware that there are differences in Canadian and American spellings?
• How many people know that the Canadian Constitution recognizes English and French as the official languages and therefore, all services are provided in both languages?

These and many other differences exist between Canada and the USA. So, this segment will bring awareness of these issues from the job search perspective, and should benefit resume writers, career coaches and other career professionals serving Canadian job seekers or professionals and others moving to Canada.

The segment will also include labour market information as it relates to the workforce, and particularly, newcomers. Each year, Canada welcomes approximately thousands of new immigrants – mainly from the professional and business classes, and this wave of migration comes with its own set of challenges.

Hopefully, this section of Job-Hunt will be a place with information that will benefit job seekers, career professionals and others interested in Canada’s job market and the best methods of job hunting in Canada.

The post International Job Search: Canada appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Misspellings or Different Spellings?

Nowhere was it more evident than at a job fair in Toronto several months ago hosted by two healthcare entities from the USA. A client, who is a nurse, heard of the job fair on short notice, and presented her resume formatted for the Canadian market.

After reviewing her resume and cover letter, the recruiter told her that her resume had “several spelling errors.” Of course, she was taken aback.

Some of the “errors” were Centre, Cheque, Honour, Judgement and Practised.

After she composed herself, she told the recruiter that the documents were created for the Canadian market, hence the spelling; that her Spellchecker would not have picked up the “errors,” and that she didn’t realize it made such a difference.

The recruiter also told her she was not aware there was a difference. In the end, these “spelling errors” did not cost her the job opportunity as she was offered a position and moved to Florida.

The situation could have easily been reversed with an American job seeker being tripped up by American spellings used in a resume submitted to a Canadian employer.

The Commonwealth of Spelling

As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations (formerly known as the British Commonwealth), Canada owes its “spelling allegiance” to the British. It’s the same in Australia and the English-speaking Caribbean islands.

In reality, though, Canadians tend to straddle the fence and use what’s convenient. If they are conducting a job search in the USA, then they use the American spelling, but that same resume could be used in Canada and not many people would notice the difference.

As a matter of fact, in the back of our minds, we sometimes wonder if the differences really matter. How else would one explain the fact that Canadian words such as analyze, categorize, customize and legalize are consistent with the American spelling where the “s” is substituted for a “z”?

For example, here is a partial list of all the words that are spelled differently in Canada and the US.

American Spelling

• Acknowledgment
• Behavior
• Center
• Check
• Favor
• Honor
• Judgment
• Practice
• Licence

Canadian Spelling 

• Acknowledgement
• Behaviour
• Centre
• Cheque
• Favour
• Honour
• Judgement
• Practise (verb)
  Practice (noun)
• License (verb)
  Licence (noun)

The aim of this article is to shed some light on some of the nuances that exist and help us adapt when job hunting – or reviewing resumes – on both sides of the border and internationally. The next time you are preparing your resume for the “other side” of the border (regardless of which side you are on), check to see if your spelling is consistent with usage in the target country.

Bottom Line

When in doubt about Canadian spelling and grammar, refer to The Globe and Mail Style Guide, and Gregg’s Reference Manual (Canadian Edition). American job seekers using Canadian spelling will look more knowledgeable about Canada as well as more interested in fitting in.

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

The post Caution! Watch Out for the Differences in Canadian and American Spelling appeared first on Job-Hunt.

SIN = Social Insurance Number

Before anyone can legally begin working in Canada, it is necessary to provide one’s Social Insurance Number (SIN), a unique nine-digit number issued by the Canadian Federal Government to an individual. It is used to identify that person for employment, government benefit programs and/or services, and taxation purposes. This number cannot be used legally by another person.

If someone is a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident to Canada, or a temporary resident (with a work permit), he or she will need a Social Insurance Number (SIN). The Canadian SIN is similar to the Social Security Number used in the United States. It must be provided when applying for benefits and services from the government.

When a SIN Card Is Required

The Social Insurance Number plays an important role in the employment sphere. Without the number, the government would not be able to keep a record of a person’s deductible earnings – income tax, Employment Insurance (EI), or Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Neither will the government be able to verify whether someone qualifies for and is eligible to receive certain benefits.

A newcomer to Canada, for example, would not be able to open a bank account without providing a SIN.

Each individual must provide a SIN to the following:

• An employer, and the income-tax office
• Financial institutions where you are earning interest or income
• Employment Insurance (EI) benefit office
• Canada Education Savings Grant (CESG) or a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP)
• Canada Child Tax Benefit (if one has children)
• Social-assistance benefits
• Workers Compensation benefits

When a SIN Card Is Not Required

While the above is mandatory, there are situations when one is not obligated to provide a SIN or show the card, such as:

• Proof of identity (except for government services)
• Completing a job application prior to a job offer
• Renting a property
• Negotiating a lease
• Completing a credit card application
• Cashing a cheque
• Renting a car
• Applying to university or college
• Completing some banking transactions (mortgage, line of credit, loan), or
• Completing a medical questionnaire

Some private-sector organizations may ask for the SIN, and although this practice is strongly discouraged, it is not illegal.

Basic Precautions

Since the Social Insurance Number is unique to each person, you should protect it from theft and fraud. Here are some basic precautions:

• Do not make it a habit to carry around your SIN card with you. It’s better to memorize your number and keep the card in a safe place at home.
• Do not use your SIN as a form of identification, as you will be putting your personal information at risk.
• Do not provide your SIN over the telephone unless you are the one who initiated the call.

Source of SIN Cards

Service Canada is the federal government agency that oversees the issuance of the Social Insurance Number. For detailed information about the card click on this link: ServiceCanada.gc.ca.

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

The post The Canadian SIN Card – You Can’t Job Search without It (in Canada) appeared first on Job-Hunt.

By the way, these oil-patch jobs have nothing to do with the Keystone Pipeline project, which is currently a topic of political discussion in this U.S. election year.

Among these are petroleum engineers, nursing supervisors, and electrical contractors. These three are highlighted below in order of demand:

1. Petroleum Engineer.

Yes, the oil sands area of Alberta is calling, and even during the recession 71% of oil patch employers were looking for petro engineers. Oil production in Canada is expected to grow at an alarming rate in the next seven years, and there won’t be enough people to fill the projected job openings. Salaries start at $60,000, median $90,000, but one can expect a salary of approximately $300,000 if one is a senior specialist.

Requirements must include an engineering degree (with petroleum specialty), as well as the Professional Engineer (P. Eng) license.

2. Nursing Supervisor.

If you are a registered nurse (RN) having attained a four-year nursing degree, with at least five years of clinical experience, and post graduate studies in health administration, the future looks bright for you in Canada.

It is being projected that there will be a 30% shortage of RNs and nursing supervisors by 2020. The Canadian health administration industry awaits any RN with an interest in leadership, and an ability to balance the need for quality care and managing a hospital. The median salary is $74,880, but these professionals can earn more than $90,000 per year, and this makes the profession more attractive.

3. Electrical Contractor.

For individuals who enjoy autonomy, want more control over income and time, and are skilled at reading blueprints, this career could be a good choice. Power-line and cable workers, as well as electrical installers and repair technicians, can easily earn $74,000 per year.

There’s a shortage of certified electricians, and job seekers are being encouraged to consider this field as a career alternative.

US Veterans Are Being Recruited

While all three of these professions are not necessarily connected to the oil industry, something interesting is happening in Western Canada that could benefit US Vets and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, a city-run agency, has been proactively targeting US Vets through Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Vetjobs.com, to try to ease the shortage of skilled workers estimated to be 114,000 over the next decade.

The oil industry would definitely benefit from petroleum engineers and electrical contractors, and who knows, there could probably be opportunities for nursing supervisors. The point is that the labour shortage is being severely felt in the western provinces, and they are digging deep to find skilled professionals.

Although they are looking at Canadian workers first, since the talent pool is drying up, they are also looking south of the border.

For more information:

• The Globe and Mail: Alberta job agency turns to U.S. veterans to fill vacancies
• CNS News: Alberta, Canada Recruiting US Veterans
• The Globe and Mail: Want a job? The oil patch needs you

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

The post High-Demand Jobs for Canada’s Oil Patch Region appeared first on Job-Hunt.

Experts say bilingualism is highly valued in the professional job market, and most employers prefer such candidates because it gives them (the employer) a competitive edge within the global market.

“Expect to be questioned about your level of French – spoken, understood, and written, and bilingualism (French and English) is really a major asset for most jobs, especially in the Montreal area,” said Career Management Counsellor, Claire Savoie.

This explains why Quebec tends to attract people from countries like Belgium, France, Haiti, and a number of French-speaking African countries.

Bilingual Speech Not Always Required

However, this mix of French comes with its own set of challenges. There are differences in accents, common vocabulary and expressions, and sometimes people from France tend to have difficulty understanding the French spoken in Quebec.

In terms of the job search, employment counsellor, Lita Pitruzzello, said, “Without French – immigrant or not – individuals seeking work in Quebec will encounter barriers and obstacles in finding work… more so than individuals who are fluent in French with little or no knowledge of English.”

Although that is the case, job seekers who do not speak French should not become pessimistic. Instead, they should target academic institutions, hospitals, and some industries such as aeronautics and pharmaceutical companies that conduct business mainly in English.

Resumes in 2 Languages Aren’t Necessarily Good

With respect to preparing job search documents, while an English resume is not a problem in the other provinces, in Quebec, the job seeker is at a disadvantage with such a resume.

It’s easy to think that the solution is to create a French resume, but “creating a French resume does nothing for an English-speaking individual with no French. This could mislead a potential employer into thinking that the applicant speaks French. And there is nothing more frustrating for a French employer to discover during a telephone conversation that the applicant struggles to converse in French,” Ms Pitruzzello continued.

Quebec Factors

Based on the foregoing, one might believe that it’s almost impossible for Anglophones or unilingual job seekers to find employment in Quebec, but that’s not necessarily true. The adage of aligning one’s background and experience with the employer’s needs, and highlighting one’s value proposition remains true, and if a job seeker can do that, they stand a good chance of being hired.

Here are some additional facts to know when conducting a job search campaign in Quebec:

• Hiring and promotion are generally based on skill, accomplishments, and individual performance, as well as one’s ability to integrate within a work team.
• The province offers good opportunities for self-employment.
• Employers value employees who are punctual and respect deadlines.
• Equal opportunity is highly valued, regardless of one’s socioeconomic background or the prestigious college or university that one attended in one’s country of origin.
• Knowledge of a third language such as Spanish, is an asset.
• While in English, everyone says “you,” one should avoid the informal use of “tu” during a first encounter with a French-speaking person. “Vous” is preferred, unless specified by that person.
• The cost of living is lower in Quebec, so expect lower wages than in Ontario and the western provinces.

Bottom Line

Although this article focuses on Quebec, it must be reiterated that English and French are Canada’s two official languages, so whether one is searching for jobs in Quebec, New Brunswick, or any other province in Canada, fluency in both languages is definitely an asset. There are also certain positions, particularly with the different levels of government, where English/French bilingualism is a must.

* Ms Lita Pitruzzello and Ms Claire Savoie, two career management professionals in Quebec, served as resource persons for this article.

About this author…

A Certified Career Management Coach, Daisy Wright is Author of “No Canadian Experience, Eh? A Career Success Guide for New Immigrants.”  She is also the founder of The Wright Career Solution, where she assists executives, managers, and other job-seeking professionals with their resumes, cover letters, social media profiles, and interview preparation. Daisy can be found blogging at Career Musings, hanging around in CareerTips2Go Cafe as the resident “Coach-on-Call,” or tweeting as @CareerTips2Go and @NoCdnExperience.

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